PYROLYSIS OF EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES: INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE YIELDS AND COMPOSITION OF GASEOUS PRODUCT

Abstract

With the increasing concern on fossil fuel depletion and environmental problems, the utilization of renewable biomass resources is expected to play an important role in the future. Biomass can be converted into a variety of fuels and chemicals by different processes; one of which is pyrolysis that has been subjected to extensive research in recent years. In this study, pyrolysis of oil palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) was investigated using a quartz fluidised-fixed bed reactor. The effects of pyrolysis temperatures on the yields and composition of gaseous products were investigated. The temperatures of pyrolysis used were in the range of 300-600°C. The gaseous products from pyrolysis of (EFB) were analyzed using a dual-channel micro-GC with Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD). The highest and lowest gas yields obtained were 42.98 and 31.55% at 600 and 300°C, respectively. The gases detected were Carbon Monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Ethane (C₂H₆) and Ethylene (C₂H₄). At 300 and 400°C, the gas mixture comprised mainly CO₂ (20%) and CO (20%). Other gases such as CH₄, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ only evolved at higher temperature starting from 400°C with the yield of the latter two gases in very low concentration.